CCI
has taken a dual approach to tackling the need for conservation
assistance on the Hill. First, the creation of a full-time
conservation advisory position under the BCC makes it
possible to integrate conservation planning into BCC
architectural and engineering projects and long-term
strategic planning. Second, by having a conservator
on the Hill, it becomes easier to identify the operational
requirements for day-to-day preventive conservation
and treatment services for moveable and fixed heritage
collections. The SCPA chairs a standing working group
of representatives from the four parliamentary partners.
The mandate of this working group is to develop and
recommend heritage collections policy and modern collections
management systems for the Precinct to the BCSC. One
of the first accomplishments of this group was the development
of extensive guidelines for introducing art and architectural
design elements into the new parliamentary building.
The framework for all of this activity is the development
of the Building Components Program, the “BC”
in the “BCC.” The BCSC has requested that
the SCPA assist in the development of the initial phase
of the Building Components Program through to 2008.
This is a daunting task that involves the strategic
planning of projects and resources necessary to implement
the LTVP as it applies to all heritage building elements
and collections in the Precinct. Identifying resources
includes not only costs, material and space requirements,
and infrastructure, but also professional issues such
as the availability of conservation professionals and
heritage craft specialists to respond to the increasing
demands for professional conservation project work on
the Hill as the LTVP is implemented.
Although the project is still at a preliminary stage,
the impact on conservation will likely be significant.
The Library of Parliament is already under renovation,
and several pilot projects and investigations are running
in the Centre Block. Considering that as many as 80
special heritage rooms are involved in the project,
the tasks of developing swing space for displaced collections,
dealing with issues of site protection and supervision,
and advising engineering and architectural design teams
are likely to cause many sleepless nights. By 2024,
these historic buildings (that are not a museum) will
benefit from the introduction of modern services, building
systems, and communications cabling. The heritage building
components and moveable collections will be preserved,
conserved, and reinstated where possible for the next
generation of Parliamentarians and for all Canadians.
References
Conservation Guidelines for the Interior of the
Centre Block, Parliament Hill. Ottawa: Heritage
Conservation Program, Real Property Services for Canadian
Heritage and Environment Canada, PWGSC, PPD, February
1998.
Long Term Vision and Plan of the Parliamentary
Precinct (LTVP). Ottawa: PWGSC, 2001.
Long Term Vision and Plan for the Parliamentary Precinct
The Long Term Vision and Plan (LTVP) was adopted in
2001. What drives the LTVP is the need to renew the
precinct and provide accommodations for parliamentarians
into the next century. It has a twenty-three year horizon
in which the services, infrastructure and heritage fabric
of the Parliament Buildings will be rehabilitated and
conserved, and a new parliamentary building and several
major building additions will be constructed to add
badly-needed committee room and office space for parliamentarians
within five concurrent phases. One major project will
be the relocation of the House of Commons and the Senate
into swing space to permit the closing of the Centre
Block and its complete renovation. Heritage collections
and building components will require relocating off
site and immovable elements will require site protection
during the works. Refitting to protect delicate Tyndall
limestone and marble finishes will be necessary throughout
the building.
The phases of the LTVP can be summarized as follows:
PHASE 1 2001 - 2008/9
(core construction/renovation projects)
Library of Parliament
East Block, 1867 Wing Masonry
Wellington Building
Victoria Building
Bank Street Building
(New Parliamentary Building Construction)
PHASE 2 2008/9 - 2011/12
(renovation of the Centre Block)
Confederation Building Masonry
West Block
Confederation/Justice Infill
East Block Infill
PHASE 3 2011/12 - 2016/17
(renovation of the Centre Block)
Centre Block, One Phase
PHASE 4 2016/17 - 2020/21
(completion of renovations of existing buildings)
East Block, 1867 Wing
Confederation Building
PHASE 5 2020/21 - 2023/24
(completion of new accommodations)
Centre Block Underground Services (CBUS) South
Source: http://www.parliamenthill.gc.ca/text/ltvp-index-e.html
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